I'm a libertarian lawyer and college professor. I blog on religion, history, constitutional law, government policy, philosophy, sexuality, and the American Founding. Everything is fair game though. Over the years, I've been involved in numerous group blogs that come and go. This blog archives almost everything I write.
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Tuesday, February 07, 2006

New London’s Latest Plan for Susette Kelo’s Land

The latest proposal: “Under a plan presented to the City Council Monday night, four people whose homes were seized for a private development would be allowed to stay. The city would own their properties and the residents would have to pay the city to live there.” It’s strange to use the word “compromise” in this case. Usually, a compromise is reached between people who each want different things and they reach a bargain where they each get something they’re satisfied with. Here, one side wants to just be left alone in her house, and the other side wants to seize it with the force of the state. Not exactly what you’d call a business deal. But, as Lincoln said,

We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men’s labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatable things, called by the same name—liberty.